Potential Holmes jurors' pay rate cut in half

Published: March 27, 2001 12:00 AM

By cutting compensation to potential jurors, who are called to court but are not selected to serve, it is estimated Holmes County will save more than $14,000 annually.

The county commissioners on Monday agreed to reduce the rate jurors who are sent home from $30 to $15 per day. Those who are seated on the jury will continue to be paid $30 per day for the first 10 days and $45 per day thereafter.

A group of at least 40 potential jurors are summoned to common pleas court an average of twice per month. Of those, only 13 or 14 are selected to hear the case.

"We try to be real effective in our jury selection, and most juries are seated in half a day," said Judge Thomas D. White, who proposed the cut to the commissioners. "Because they're only here for half a day, we think it's fair they are paid for only half the day."

The idea was generated by a budget hearing in which the commissioners asked all of the county's elected officials to review their individual budgets and try to identify ways in which the county could eliminate some extraneous costs. The reduction would save the county between $600 and $700 per trial, White estimates.

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"This is absolutely an attempt to save taxpayer money," he said. "Hopefully that will help the general fund a little bit."

Needless to say, the commissioners are pleased with the thought of the impending savings.

"It will help save the county money, and (the jurors not selected for service) are able to report to work for part of the day," said Commissioner Roger Clark. "It was nice to have the judge look at how the courts can help to cut costs."

In another effort to help the county save money, the commissioners on Monday also approved changing the county's long distance carrier to First Communications of Cleveland. Through the state county commissioners' association, the county was able to secure a reduced per minute rate of 5 cents. Also, the provider will be able to supply the commissioners with a more detailed bill so outgoing calls can be better monitored.

Currently, the county is paying between 6 and 7 cents per minute with Sprint. The Sprint contract expired in February and the company, after several phone calls, failed to provide the commissioners with new contract rates.

Also on Monday, the commissioners agreed to extend a lease with John C. Hipp for use of county land until January 2006.

Hipp leases 22 acres at the former children's home and 172.4 acres at the county home for farming. The lease extension will be continued at the current rate, totaling $15,285 per year.